England v Samoa: Castleford Tigers star Zak Hardaker believes fans will see an even better player this time

Full-back, named at centre, even hints he may head back to Australia one day

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BY GARY CARTER

5th May 2017, 7:43 am

Updated: 5th May 2017, 9:41 am

ZAK Hardaker was given a glimpse into his past – but he is all about showing how good he is at present and could be in the future.

The Castleford full-back is back on Australian soil for the first time since a loan spell at NRL side Penrith last year.

Zak Hardaker hopes to bring his club form into the international arena

If he could wind the clock back, he would make sure it is easier to settle in straight away as he initially found life 10,000 miles from home difficult.

Now he is determined to show the Australian public exactly what he can do in an England shirt, after seeing what life was like years ago after a newspaper cutting from his 13th birthday surfaced.

And, who knows, he might head back there one day.

“I’m looking forward to getting out there and I just want to do the best I can,” said Hardaker, who will play at centre tomorrow.

Hardaker got a glimpse into the past when this cutting from his 13th birthday emerged

“It would be good to put a marker down and show them what we’re about.

“Moving to Australia was a massive adjustment. I was literally living there on my own in a big four-bedroomed house, so that was different.

“It took me two or three weeks then I got to know the guys at Penrith and I look back now and I had a brilliant three or four months.

“Any Australian fans will probably see a different player as I didn’t really get a chance to show what I could really do last year.

Hardaker is on loan at Castleford from Leeds Rhinos

“It was frustrating but one of the reasons I went was to play rugby and get away from things, to get that experience. I look back and think it’s crazy that I’ve even been.

“If I could do take that time, I’d definitely do it all again but they’ll definitely see a better player.”

Hardaker endured a poor 2016 that was capped with missing out on England’s Four Nations squad.

But the 25-year-old is back in the fold after taking Super League by storm with Castleford after moving on loan from Leeds.

Hardaker has been out of the England side for two years

And he has admitted being a spectator rammed home just how important international rugby league is to him.

Even finding himself caught up as a pre-season training camp in Dubai was scrapped at the last minute got his juices flowing.

Hardaker added: “That Dubai trip didn’t happen but I got the excitement back and I’m really pleased I’ve got back into the fold.

“Last year was unfamiliar territory really – having to watch it then having a full pre-season!

Hardaker is some way to reproducing the form that earned him the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award

“It was a bit strange but it made me realise how much I wanted to get it back. There’s a big prize at the end of it with the World Cup too.

“When I was looking to move elsewhere, a big reason of moving to Cas was how good they are. I want to be up there competing for trophies and get the chance to represent my country.

“But I think it’s gone better than I thought it would. When I was training, I thought, ‘We’ve got something exciting here,’ but I didn’t think we’d be as good as we are now.”

Hardaker will definitely be putting in the miles. Less than a week before England play Samoa, he was facing Wigan in Super League at Castleford and seven days later after he will be back in Yorkshire playing St Helens in the Challenge Cup.

Hardaker will be back in an England shirt against Samoa

But he feels he can take facing the likes of half-back ace Anthony Milford and centre star Joey Leilua into his domestic game.

He said: “Milford is probably the top half-back in the world and Leilua is a crazy centre. Playing against that calibre of player is brilliant.

“Coming back to play Super League will be tough but hopefully I can carry my form into being back at Castleford.”

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